KL Rahul sparks middle-order debate again as he returns to no5 with 8th ODI hundred

New Delhi: India batter KL Rahul marked a strong return to form, reigniting discussions around the middle order after moving back to the No. 5 position and scoring his eighth century of his ODI career.

His composed hundred not only underlined his versatility but also reopened the debate over India’s ideal batting combination in limited-overs cricket. KL Rahul was in the spotlight after scoring a magnificent century for India in the second match of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand.

Rahul got to his half-century off 52 deliveries in front of a packed crowd at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

The Indian team suffered a dramatic top and middle order collapse, after the top order batters, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, who opened the innings ina decent manner. The seasoned-batter Rohit was on his way back after scoring 24, while Gill departed right after scoring his 2nd half-century of the series.

Man of the Match from the first ODI, Virat Kohli, was expected to fire on all cylinders but was dismissed for just 23 off 29 balls. Shreyas Iyer also endured a forgettable outing, managing only 8 runs.

The responsibility then fell on Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul, but Jadeja, despite a promising start, was dismissed for 27 off 44 balls. With India in need of someone to take charge and anchor the innings, Rahul stepped up and shouldered the responsibility.

The responsibility then fell on Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul, but Jadeja, despite a promising start, was dismissed for 27 off 44 balls. With India in need of someone to take charge and anchor the innings, Rahul stepped up and shouldered the responsibility.

KL Rahul’s 8th century

Rahul negotiated the middle overs with remarkable calm and composure, guiding India out of a precarious situation. Despite watching Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, and Nitish Rana fall cheaply at the other end, his resolve remained unshaken as he held the innings together with authority.